James King Arness (May 26, 1923 – June 3, 2011) was an Americanactor. He was best known for his role in Gunsmoke. He played the character Marshal Matt Dillon. His younger brother was actor Peter Graves.

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Arness was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He dropped the "u" when he started acting. His mother was of German ancestry; his father was of Norwegian ancestry.[2] The family name had been Aursnes, but when Rolf's father, Peter Aursnes, emigrated from Norway in 1887, he changed it to Aurness.[3] Arness and his family were Methodists.[4] He served in the army in Italy during World War II. He received the Bronze Star.